Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

A Morocco World Cup would have been pretty cool and at least exciting, and the country is legitimately beautiful if you manage to avoid food poisoning. Although 48 teams is probably way too big for most non-US or China countries to host by themselves without severely doubling down on stadiums in the same city (another reason why 32 is much better than 48). No one but oligarchs could possibly be excited about a winter World Cup in Qatar, a country whose only appeal is 'a bunch of people here are disgustingly rich, also, you're enjoying slave labor'. Ideally, it would have been USA2022 and Morocco2026

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Japan and South Korea both got auto bids in 2002, so I'd assume probably, yea -- even though Canada and the US don't deserve to be there.

The US missed out for the first time since 1986. They've been to a quarterfinal and one a group. They didn't deserve to be there this year but in eight years? Who knows? Russia is the lowest ranked team at this World Cup and Qatar may not even be in the top 100 in four years! I don't think any team deserves to be there, they either are or they aren't.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Japan and South Korea both got auto bids in 2002, so I'd assume probably, yea -- even though Canada and the US don't deserve to be there.

We don't deserve to be in this world cup because we didn't qualify. 8 years from now is a different story. We have no idea what will happen, but based on the most recent embarrassment and motivation to avoid a future embarrassment on home soil I can't see the US not overhauling the system to prepare a better team on the field for twenty freaking twenty six. None of the bums in the program now, save for a couple guys like Christian Pulisic will be a part of the program.

I imagine Canada will put more money and work into their program as well.

1

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

We don't deserve to be in this world cup because we didn't qualify. 8 years from now is a different story. We have no idea what will happen, but based on the most recent embarrassment and motivation to avoid a future embarrassment on home soil I can't see the US not overhauling the system to prepare a better team on the field for twenty freaking twenty six. None of the bums in the program now, save for a couple guys like Christian Pulisic will be a part of the program.

I imagine Canada will put more money and work into their program as well.

The commitment to the Canadian Premier League will help Canada catch up a bit. I think by 2025 we will see more money coming into MLS and the USL as well which could up the capabilities of American and CONCACAF nations as well. They'll still get the random "retiree" from Europe but US Soccer will probably want to come up with a way to get U23 players meaningful games, either in MLS or in Europe.

0

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

It is always a bit stunning to me how little playing time goes to young Americans in MLS. I don't think it's the league's job to fix the USMNT, but it's interesting how MLS stat leaderboards are always mostly foreign players, and the only Americans are aging and/or USMNT washouts.

The auto-bid situation is to be decided by CONCACAF with the understanding that the auto-bids will be taken directly out of its available slots.

So im operating on the assumption that Mexico will qualify regardless, USA may or may not, and Canada absolutey won’t (assuming they don’t dramatically improve in the next 8 years). With that being the case, I’m hoping that Mexico and the US qualify and they only have to use one automatic qualifier spot on Canada. Maybe that’s not how it works, though. But It would probably be a good idea to use those automatic qualifiers as an insurance policy only. Either way, three automatic bids seems overkill, and I find that he’s to justify (even with the expanded field). Especially when one of those bids is a maybe at best team, and the second is absolutely not.